Page 65 of The Temptation
I lifted my eyes to his, clinging to the newly budding hope in my chest. “Does this mean that you’re willing to give us a try? Arealtry?”
Pierce immediately backed off so that we were no longer touching. The haunted look returned to his gaze. “I-I don’t know. Your brother…yes, logic says he could have completely changed his opinion about us now that you’re an adult, but I can’t get it out of my head. Our last words to each other were so angry and toxic. The last thing I promised him…”
That wasn’t a no. Besides, I’d known I wouldn’t be able to fix everything in a single talk. This old wound had been festering inside Pierce for more than ten years. I also couldn’t be the only one to help him heal. There were other people he’d been hiding this from.
“Okay.”
Pierce froze, his wide eyes locked on me, like he couldn’t believe that I’d so easily agreed with him. Except I wasn’t finished.
“We’ll put us on hold. It’s not the most important thing right now.” I slowly closed the distance between us and caught his cold right hand. I lifted his fingers to my lips as I cradled his hand in mine. In the opening, I blew hot air on his fingertips, trying to warm them. “I think the next thing you need to do is have a long talk with Rome, Declan, and Sebastian.”
“No!” Pierce tried to pull his hand free, but I was ready for him. I tightened my grip on him, refusing to let him escape.
“They’ve been worried about you for years. They also know something happened back then. Don’t you think they deserve to know the truth? They won’t hate you over this.”
“But they might hate Sawyer. I don’t want their opinion of him to change.”
A heavy sigh escaped me. “I don’t hate him. I’m really fucking pissed and annoyed with him at the moment, but I don’t hate him. His heart was in the right place, even if he was an idiot. I would like to kick him in the dick right now, but I also think he would have come to his senses if he’d had time to cool off. And I’m pretty sure your friends will feel the same way.”
“I don’t know.”
It was probably the best I was going to get. Holding tight to his hand, I tugged him to the bathroom. “I want you to get a hot shower and clear your head. Afterward, go see Sebastian and Declan. I will go with you if you want.”
“No, you have work.” He paused at the threshold and stared at me. I could see he’d already decided by the look in his eyes. “I want to talk to them alone. You’re going to stay here?”
I nodded. “I will. If I have to go out, I promise to text you where I’m going and when I expect to return.”
He grunted and looked at our hands for a second. “I can’t make any promises. I don’t know…”
“I’m not expecting promises. We’re taking this one step at a time, and the first step is you healing. Nothing else matters to me.”
He nodded, and I released him, stepping backward out of the bathroom. I pulled the door partially closed, leaving it so the steam could escape.
God, I wish I could kick Sawyer’s ass.
22
PIERCE SUTTON
The shower helped.
And as much as I hated to admit it, talking to Simon had helped too.
I’d been carrying this old memory with me for too long, and the burden of it was slowly destroying me. Over the years, I’d become too guarded around my friends, and I’d nearly lost the chance to spend some amazing time with Simon.
When I stepped out of the bathroom, I found the bedroom empty. I quickly checked my phone, but there were no messages waiting for me. Simon had to be somewhere in the house. I dressed and hurried down the stairs to find him in the kitchen, chatting up Hilda and Mrs. Cantrip with a platter of assorted cheeses and crackers between them. He’d located his clothes and was wearing a pair of faded jeans and a soft sweater that made him look so damn adorable. His messy hair called to me. I ached to run my fingers through it.
My first instinct was to walk in and press a kiss to his temple, but I didn’t want to break up this cozy atmosphere. He appeared so comfortable and happy in my home after too many rough days and nights.
Plus, I needed to put a little more space between us until I got my head screwed on straight. It wasn’t fair to pull Simon close only to push him away again. It had to be one or the other, and it was time for me to make a decision about it.
And to do that, I needed to talk to my friends.
I left Edward behind and drove into the city so that he could be at the house if Simon needed to go somewhere. The trip took less than half an hour, but it was more than enough time to change my mind about speaking to Sebastian at least a dozen times.
My stomach had turned itself into knots, and my hands had grown so cold that my knuckles were aching. After a couple of deep breaths, I pulled myself together enough to walk into the gleaming Courtland Enterprises building. As I approached the security desk, one guard smiled and automatically nodded.
“It’s good to see you, Mr. Sutton. I’ll message Kaylan that you’re on your way up.”
